By Trendsetter Tribune 
A 21-year-old college student was blinded in one eye during a Southern California protest against ICE, leaving him with permanent injuries and sparking questions about federal crowd-control tactics.
A Southern California protest turned life-changing for 21-year-old college student Kaden Rummler, who said he was blinded in one eye by a projectile fired by a federal officer. The incident, part of growing tensions over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics, highlights the risks protesters face when federal agents engage in aggressive crowd-control measures.
The incident
Rummler was injured on January 9 outside a federal immigration building in Orange County during a protest over the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis. According to Rummler, a projectile struck him in the left eye, causing “agonizing pain” and necessitating a six-hour surgery.
“It’s going to affect every aspect of my life,” Rummler told reporters. He now suffers from loss of depth perception, cannot drive, and has metal and plastic fragments lodged in his skull. His attorney, John Washington, said Rummler is considering legal action.
Another demonstrator, 31-year-old Britain Rodriguez, reported a similar injury at the same protest, telling the Los Angeles Times, “I remember hitting the ground and feeling like my eye exploded in my head.”
Federal response and uncertainty
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the type of projectile used. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that protesters were violent and two officers were injured, but did not provide details on their injuries. She described Rummler’s injury claims as “absurd.”
Rummler has been charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, while other protesters faced jail time or charges for resisting federal officers. Washington noted that medical professionals are concerned about potential toxicity from the projectile, believed to be a metal and plastic capsule containing pepper spray.
Video evidence
Video footage from OC Hawk shows the events unfolding outside the federal building. Protesters shouted through megaphones while officers in riot gear urged them to disperse. Rummler and others stepped forward, prompting an officer to fire a crowd-control projectile at close range, striking Rummler in the face. He was dragged across the plaza and handcuffed, the video shows.
Personal impact and advocacy
Despite the severity of his injury, Rummler said he would protest again, motivated by a desire to prevent families from being torn apart by immigration enforcement.
“I refuse to sit around idly and watch that happen, and in 50 years, I would absolutely regret not trying to make a change,” he said.
Washington called the shooting nearly fatal. “Any officers with just the most basic training would know you don’t shoot someone ever in the face with this, but let alone at point-blank range… it very nearly was lethal,” he said.
Expert commentary
Criminology professor Geoffrey Alpert emphasized the need for investigation. “I don’t know of any projectile where you train to shoot at that close range,” he said, questioning the level of force used against protesters.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of aggressive ICE actions, including deployments to Minneapolis following the shooting of Renee Good, and has raised concerns about federal crowd-control policies across the United States.
Conclusion
Rummler’s injury underscores the human cost of confrontations between federal authorities and protesters. As questions mount about the appropriateness and safety of federal crowd-control tactics, legal scrutiny and public debate are likely to intensify, particularly regarding the use of potentially lethal projectiles in civilian protests.